Signal switch



Dec. 7,1926. 1,609,608

" W D. COLEMAN ETAL SIGNAL SWITCH Filed April 17. 1922 I if' was; i e

, Patented Dec. 7, 1926 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIGNAL SWITCH.

Application filed April 17, 1922. Serial No. 553,519.

I The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved construction in a switch device for controlling from the drivers seat the operation of a rear stop-and-turn signal or signals. It consists in the elements and features of construction shown and described, asindicated in the claims.

In the drawings s Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of an automobile equipped with this in.- vention. Figure 2 is a rear end elevation showing the stop and turn signals in their position on the vehicle.

5 Figure 3 is a section at the line, 33, on Figure 1, showing the switch-controlling device of the invention'in plan view.

I Figure 4 is a section at the line,'4'4, on Figure 1, showing the rear side plan view of thesu'pport of the switch controller and parts thereon;

Figure 5 isa on Figure3.

Figure 6 is a section at the line, 6'6, on Figure 5, comprising also a diagram of the wiring.

In the structure shown in the drawings, the fixed standard of the steering column is seen at 1. 2 is the steering hand wheel.

section at the line, 5' 5,

I 3 is its shaft. 4 is a support for the circuit controller which is clamped onto the standard,'1. 5 is a circuit controller which is pivoted uponthe support, 4, on the pivot, 6, which is of conducting material, said'supcontroller,'{ and the pivot bya cotter pin, 10, the spring being com ressed tov any desired tension 'iin bringing t ev washer 9, down on the pivot to a point which permits he cotterpin to be inserted above it. Thezgcontroller, 5, car.- ries two contacts, 11, .11, projecting from its lower side and spring-pressed downward by springs, 11", 1,1", which at their upper steering wheel to straight aheadposition.

end's' react against the under side of the washer, 9, is pressed by the spring, 8, theresteering hand wheel. If'steering movement port, 4, and the circuit controller being pref-- erably-of insulating material, and to be so understood in the drawings; The circuit pivot -forreact ing between a;

, secured up'n the= a washer, 9, abovethe-spring, checked on plate, 7, against which, as stated, the lower by eifecting electrical connection between the pivot, v6, and the contacts, 11. In the upper surface of the support, 4, there are embedded, flush with said upper surface, annular contact plates, 12, 13 and 14. 'The' contact plate, 12, is a complete annulus, except as to a short gap, 12. The plates, 13 and 14, are similar segments of an annulus outside the annulus, 12, and concentric theretion to the gap, 12*, of the plate, 12, and being also separated by a short gap 13', diametrically opposite said gap, 13*. The contact plate, 12, is in the path of the lower end of the contact, 11, and the annularsegments, 13 and .14, respectively thevpaths of the contact, 11, in the rotation of the controller, 5, to the right and'left, respectively. The controller, -5, is provided with gear teeth, 5, 5", and 5, for engagement by teeth, 3", of a mutilated gear member, 3 which is carried by the shaft, 3, of the steering hand wheel. :At the straight-ahead positionof the steering hand Wheel, the tooth, 5, of the controller, 5, is engaged between the teeth,,3., the partsbeing 1n the position seen in'Figure 3. Upon the rotation of the steering wheel to the right for turning the vehicle to the right, the controller, 5, is turned through an angle of about 30 degrees, and is not further rotated throughout the remainder of the first revolution of the of the wheel continues in the second revolution, the tooth, 5 is engaged, and the controller is further rotated through another 30 degrees. In the first. thirty degrees of.

the second revolution, and upon the first 95 return revolution of the steering hand wheel, J

the controller is picked up by the engagement, first of the tooth, 5 and afterward, by the engagement of the tooth, 5. And, similarly, in rotation of the steering hand wheel to the left, the controller is turned thirty degrees in the corresponding direction in the first thirty degrees of the firstrevolution' of -the steering hand wheel, and

thirty degrees additional in the first-thirty de'greesfof the second revolution of the'steering hand wheel, and is restored to initial, position injijthe reverse movement of the The switch and controller devices above described are connected in three' circuits comprising a main clrcuit, and two branch with, said annular segments, 13 and 14, be-" ingseparated by a gap, 13*, in radial relaso i circuits. All said circuits are energized by a single source of energy as the battery indicated at X, mounted in any convenient position on the automobile, from which the line wire, leads to a binding nut, 15, on

the rear end of the pivot, 6. A binding screw, 16, rooted in the contact plate, 12, and extending through the support, 4, at the rear side thereof, is connected by a line wire, 17 with the rear stop signal, S, which is inturn grounded by connection to the vehicle frame work, as indicated by the ground, D, in diagram, Figure 6. From the annular segment contact plate, 13, a line wire, 18, leads to the right-hand signal, R, which is in'turn grounded, as indicated in diagram, Fig. 6, the tonnection of the line wire, 18, to the segment, 13, being by means of a binding post, 20, rooted in said segment and extending through the support, 4, to the back side thereof, as seen in Figure 5. Similarly, the segment contact annulus, 14, is provided with a binding post, 21, from which a line wire, 22, leads to the left hand turn signal, L, which is in turn grounded, as seen in Figure 6. It will be seen from the foregoing description, that the several circuits being completed by contact of the contacts, 11 and 11, with segments, 13 and 14, accord ing to theposition of the circuit controller, the pivot, 6, will be contained in all the circuits, the sto signal will be contained in the circuit with the contact plate, 12; the

right-hand turn signal will be contained in circuit with the contact plate, 13, and the left-hand turn signal will be contained in circuit with the contact plate, 14; and that at the position seen in Figure 3, out of the at the normal .or.'straight-ahead position of the steering handle, all these circuits will be open'by reasonof the contacts, 11 and 11, standing at the gaps, 12 and 13*, between the proximate ends of the contact plates, but that upon turning of the steering hand -wheel a ver 'few degrees either to the right or to the le the circuit containin the stop signal and the plate, 12, will be c osed and the stop signal energized; that if the turn has been to the right, the circuit containing the right-hand-turn signal and the contact plate, 13.. will be simultaneously energized, causing the right-hand signal to be illumi nated, but if the turn has been to the left, the circuit containing the plate, 14, and the left-hand-turn signal will be energized, and said left-hand signal will be illuminated. It will be understood also that the signal to be energizedand illuminated by the turn in i one direction or the other will continue to be illuminated until the steering hand wheel is returned to straight-ahead position.

It will sometimes be considered desirable to signal the intention to turn to the right circuits containing respectively the plates, 13 and 14, and. the rightand left hand turn signals is provided with a shunt or by-pass support; and from the pivot, 6, wires, 27, 27,

are extended to contact terminals, 28, 28, mounted upon the back side of the support proximate to and out of contact with the terminals, 26, 26, respectively. J ournaledin and extending through the support, 4, are rock shafts, 30, 30, having at their rear ends switch contact arms, 31, 31, lapped across and making electrical contact bet'ween'the terminals, 26 and 28. At their forward ends these rock shafts have fingers or operating lever arms, 32, 32, or other suitable means of the-base of the controller, 5, said rock shafts have each a lever arm, 33; and the controller, 5, has projecting from its forward upper face co-operating studs, 34, 34, positioned for encounter with the arms, 33, 33, respectively, according as the controller is turned to the right or the left. The normal position of these rock shafts withtheir respective lever arms and switch contacts, is with the turning them, and also extending close over said contacts, 31, in the position shown in Figure 4, that is, out of contact with the contact terminals, 26 and 28, leaving the bypass or shunt circuit open. The arms, 33,

inn

33, being at that position of the rock shaft will close the gap of the by-pass or shunt leading to the right-'hand-turn signal and will cause that signal to be energized. Or if he wishes to give warning of the intention to 7 turn ,to the left, he will similarly operate the left hand rock shaft, '30, closing the by-pass or shunt of the circuit containing'the left hand-turn signal. When, immediately after giving the premonitory warning, the operator turns the steering hand wheel for making the turn, the stud, 34, carried by the con troller, encountering the lever arm, 33, turns the rock shaft which has been operated for givin the premonitory warning, back to norma position, opening the by-pass, at. the same time that the direct circuit is closed will thus cause the signal to be continued in operation, but obviating the necessity for the operator remembering .to.

open the bypass when the turn has been completed, and thereby insuring that theturn signal not continue t be ener- -\Vltll said lVOt; contact lates 011 the sup gized after the turn is completed.

\Ve claim 1. An electric switch device comprising in combination 'with a rotatable part, a support adapted to be secured fixedly with respect to said rotatable part; a contact carrier; an electrically conductive pivot on which the carrier is mounted, said pivot being mounted on said support; two contacts insulated on the carrier, both in circuit with said pivot; a pair of contactplates insulated from each other on the support; a third contact plate insulated from the pair, said pair and said third contact plate extending respectively in the paths of the contacts carried by the carrier, the two plates of the pair extending from the interval between them in opposite directions along said path; two circuits each containing one plate of the pair; a third circuit containing the third plate, and means by which said rotatable part turns the contact carrier in one direction or the other from non-contact position of the contact which it carries, as the rotatable art is turned in one direction or the other rom a selected normal position.

2. An electric switch device comprising in 'combination with a rotatable part a support secured fixedly with respect thereto; a switch Y controlling device mounted on the support and engaged with the rotatable part. for

taming in one direction or the other, as said rotatable part is turned a contact carrier and an electrically conductive pivot on which said carrieris mounted; three electric circuits; contacts on the support and cooperating contacts on the carrier for closing the first of said circuits upon turning of the rotatable part in either direction away from a selected normal position, and for closing the/second circuit upon turning said rotatable part in one direction, and the third circuit upon turning it in the other direction.

3. In the construction defined in claim 2 foregoing, the secondand third circuits having each a shunt or by-pass branch with a ga and a switch for closing said ga said switches being manually o erable in ependently of the turning of t e rotatable part and having each an arm which when the switch is in closed position extends over the rotating contact carrier, and means on said carrier for engaging said arms for turning the switches respectively back to open POSI- tion bythe turning ofthe carrier 1n the direction for closing the main circuit whose shunt branch or by-pass is thus opened.-

4. An electric switch comprising in combination with a rotatable art, a support adapted to be secured fixe y. with respect to the axis of rotation of said rotatable part; a switch controller pivoted on said support; an electric circuit in whicli the pivot 15 contained comprising three branches; contacts carried by the switch controller in circuit ports comprising a pair of such plates in the path of movement of one of the contacts carried by the controller, and a single plate in the path of the other contact, the single late being in one of the circuit branches an the two plates of the air being extended in opposite directions rom the interval between their proximate ends, and being one in a second branch circuit and the other in a third branch circuit; the contacts on the controller being both out of contact with the contact plate 'on the support at a selected normal position of the rotatable member, andmeans by which the turning of saidrotatable member from said normal position turns the controller to carry the contacts thereon into contact with the plates respectively.

5. An electric switch device comprising in combination with a rotatable member, a support secured fixedly with respect thereto,

her and co-operating circuit-making-andbreaking contacts on said controller and support arranged for openness of all said circuits at a selected normal position of the ro-' tatable member, and for closure of one of said circuits by rotation of said rotatable member in either direction from said normal position, and 'for closure of a second of said circuits by rotation of said member in one direction from said normal position and of the third of said circuits by rotation in the pipposite direction from 'said' normal posion. I

6. In the construction defined in claim foregoing, the second and third circuits having each a shunt or by-pass around the gap three electric circuits, a circult controller mounted for rotation by said rotatable memexisting at the normal position of the rotatable member; amanually operable switch device in said by-pass adapted to closed at will independently of the rotation of said rotatable member, and means on the control-.

tacts carried by the controller being springpressed toward the contact plates of the support by springs reacting against said metal plate. e 1

8. In the construction defined in claim 4, foregoing, the supports being of insulating material, whereby the contact plates thereon and the controller pivot projectmg therefrom are normally insulated from each other mereby bein out of contact with each other, the contro er being also of insulating ma terial for insulating from each other the contacts carried thereby, said controller hav-' dicating signals and the like on a motor vehicle comprising in combination with a art which is rotated for control of the vehicle, a supporting member adapted to be secured to a fixed part of the vehicle, a contact carrier, a pivot on which the contact carrier is mounted, two contacts insulated in the carrier both in circuit with the pivot, a pair of contact plates insulated from each other, a third contact plate insulated from the pair, said pair and said third contact plate extending respectively in the paths of the contacts carried by the carrier, the two plates of the pair extending from the interval between them in opposite directions along said path; two circuits each containing one plate of the pair; a third circuit containing the third plate; means by which the rotated part turns the contact carrier on its pivot; a stop signal device in the third circuit, and right and left turning signals in the other two circuits respectively. p

10. In combination with the construction defined in claim 1 foregoing, the same being mounted on a motor vehicle, the support being fixed with respect to the vehicle body and the rotatable part being a part which is rotated for steering the vehicle; a stop signal in the third circuit and right and left hand turning signals in the other two circuits respectively.

11. In combination with the construction defined in claim 2 foregoing, the same being mounted upon a motor vehicle, the support being fixed with respect to the vehicle body and the rotatable part bein a part which is rotated for steering the ve icle, the second and third circuits having each a shunt or bIy-pass branch with a gap and a switch for c osing said ap, said switches being manually operable independently of the turning of the rotatable part and having each an arm, which, when the switch is in closed position, extends over the rotating contact carrier, and means on said carrier for engaging said arms for returning the said switch back to open position by turning the carrier in the direction for closing the main circuit whose shunt branch or by-pass is thus opened.

12. In the construction defined in claim 4 the same being mounted upon a motor vehicle, the support being fixed with respect to the vehicle body and the rotatable part being a part which is rotated for steering the vehiclefa stop signal in the third circuit, and

' right and left hand turning signals in the two other circuits respective] 13. In combination with the construction defined in claim 5 foregoing, the same being mounted upon a motor vehicle, the support being fixed with respect to thevehicle body and the rotatable part being a part which is rotated for steering the vehicle; a sto signal in the third circuitand right and le t hand turning signals in the other two circuits respectively. n

In testimony whereof, 'we have hereunto set our hands at Chicago, Illinois, this 14 day of April, 1922.

WALTER D. COLEMAN. WENSEL MORAVA. 

